A letter of forgiveness

• Introduction… (6 points)
  • 1^st – Who wrote the book…
    • Paul the Apostle…
      • Paul – the same Paul whose ministry is laid out in – Acts 13-28
      • The same Paul who wrote 13 books of the NT (14 if you count Hebrews)
      • THREE larger letters – Romans / I Corinthians / II Corinthians…
      • SIX smaller – Galatians / Ephesians / Philippians / Colossians / I and II Thessalonians…
      • THREE Pastors Epistles – I Timothy / II Timothy / Titus
      • And PHILEMON – the ONLY personal letter we have from Paul!
    • Internal evidence…
      • Paul opens the letter with the greeting – “Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ…”
      • Also – in verse 9 – “Paul the aged” – verse 19 – “I Paul am writing to you in my own hand…”
      • The authorship of the book has been universally accepted from the early church!
  • 2^nd– Who was the book written to…
    • Philemon – from the city of Colossae…
      • Modern day city of Chonai – in the Lycus River valley is Southeast Turkey…
      • It is close to the cities of Laodicea and Hierapolis – modern day Pamukkale…
      • Pamukkale is a resort town – with natural hot springs – beautiful white cliffs…
      • Colossae lies at the northern foot of Mount Cadmus – 2500m – highest peak in the area…
      • Its snowcapped peak would provide cold – clear – mountain spring water!
      • The water from Colossae and Hierapolis ran down into Laodicea…
      • There they would mix and become lukewarm – not refreshing or relaxing – spit it out!
      • Revelation 3:16 – “Since you are like lukewarm water, I will spit you out of my mouth!”
      • We cannot live our lives with a divided heart – living for God and for the world…
      • On Sunday we walk and talk like a Christian – but the rest of the week live for sin…
      • We will find that we become lukewarm – and Jesus spits us out!
    • The church in Colossae…
      • Epaphras was the one who brought the Gospel to the city of Colossae – Colossians 1:7
      • Who was NOW in prison with Paul – Philemon 1:23 – “Epaphras my fellow prisoner…”
      • But – Paul had NEVER been to the city of – Colossians 2:1
      • Though Paul was the one who shared the Gospel with Philemon – Philemon 1:19
      • Who now had a church in his house – Philemon 1:2 – “the church in your house…”
  • 3^rd – When was the book written…
    • Paul wrote this letter during his FIRST imprisonment in Rome – Acts 28
      • Paul waited for two years in Caesarea – standing trial before Felix / Festus / and Agrippa…
      • Eventually being shipped off to Rome – when he appealed to Caesar!
      • Where he was under house arrent for TWO more years – at the Praetorium guard house…
      • His SECOND imprisonment – would be at the Mamertine prison before his execution!
    • While waiting to stand before Caesar…
      • It is thought Paul wrote this letter around 61 A.D – during his incarceration…
      • Making this one of the PRISON letters written while he was in Rome – Philemon 1:1
      • Paul wrote FOUR letters there – Ephesians / Philippians / Colossians / Philemon!
        
  • 4^th – The theme of Philemon…
    • The theme of the book is FORGIVENESS…
      • Though the word is never mentioned in the book – it is definitely the key theme…
      • Onesimus – a runaway slave – STOLE from his master Philemon – Philemon 1:18
      • He fled the city of Colossae – and ran away to Rome – where he met Paul…
      • He accepted Jesus as his savior and wanted to make things right – Philemon 1:10
      • Paul asks Philemon to FORGIVE Onesimus – and receive him back!
      • But not as a SLAVE – instead to receive him now as a BROTHER in Christ!
    • Key verse – based on FORGIVENES…
      • Philemon 1:15-16 – “Perhaps he departed for a while for this purpose, that you might receive him forever, no longer as a slave but more than a slave—a beloved brother, especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.”
  • 5^th – Why is the book important…
    • FIRST – It teaches us about forgiveness…
      • Onesimus – a slave / employee – STOLE something from his employer – then ran away…
      • Paul writes the letter asking Philemon to FORGIVE and RECEIVE Onesimus back…
      • FORGIVENESS is a HUGE issue for us as believers – because it is REQUIRED…
      • Peter asked Jesus how MANY times must I FORGIVE – SEVEN times – Matthew 18:21-22
      • In other words – once he messes up the EIGHTH time – I am OK to hold it against him!
      • If someone went around spreading GOSSIP about me to others…
      • Then came to you and asked for forgiveness – I MIGHT forgive them…
      • But if they went right back out and told MORE of the same stories – no FORGIVENESS!
    • Jesus answers Peter – not SEVEN times – FORGIVE 70×7…
      • With a little quick math – we can figure out that is 490 times…
      • If you are like me – that means you break out the notebook and start to count…
      • You are at 480 buddy – careful – you only have 10 more to go!
      • But Jesus is not giving us a number – He is giving us a Bible reference…
      • In the days of Jesus – the Bible had no chapters of verses…
      • In order to reference a passage in the Bible – you quoted part of it…
      • It turns out that 70×7 is a very special number only used once in the Bible!
      • Daniel 9:24 – “A period of seventy sets of seven [70×7] has been decreed… to bring an end to sin, to atone for guilt, to bring in everlasting righteousness….”
      • Jesus is saying – we forgive until there is no more sin!
      • How often are we to forgive someone who sins against us – Every time!
      • What if they keep committing the same sin – then we keep forgiving!
    • We FORGIVE – for our relationship with God…
      • God had FORGIVEN Philemon all his sin – how could he not FORGIVE Onesimus…
      • Jesus went to the cross to pay for our sins – ALL our sins…
      • He was willing to forgive everything we ever have done – or will ever do!
      • Therefore – considering how much we have been forgiven – how could we not FORGIVE!
    • If we are unwilling to FORGIVE – then God will not FORGIVE us…
      • Matthew 6:15 – “If you do not FORGIVE men their trespasses, neither will your Father FORGIVE your trespasses.”
      • Not just in words – but also sincerely – forgiven from the heart…
      • If we really understand from our heart how much we are forgiven…
      • How can we not from the heart gladly for give others!
        

• SECOND – It teaches us about UNITY…
  • Onesimus was a SLAVE – and Philemon was a very wealthy MASTER…
  • They were from TWO different worlds and had NOTHING in common…
  • Yet in Jesus Christ – they were BROTHERS – they had UNITY in their FAITH!
  • Galatians 3:28 – “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
• In Jesus there are no longer any categories…
  • We often tend to think of Christians in ranks – bad / good / best…
  • As if someone God looks down and sees some of us as better than others!
  • But there are only two classes of people when it comes to God…
  • Those who have believed the Gospel – destined to spend eternity in heaven…
  • And those who have rejected Jesus – destined to spend eternity separated from God!
• Salvation is NOT based on who are – it is all about whom we know!
  • God does not care if we are Jew or gentile – RICH or POOR…
  • No matter who we are the only way we can be saved – is by faith in Jesus Christ!
  • Ultimately – we are all equal under God – all sinners saved by the same grace!
• 6^th – How is the book divided…
  • Philemon 1:1-7 – The respect of Paul for Philemon
  • Philemon 1:8-25 – The request of Paul to Philemon

• 1^st – Greeting of Paul… vs. 1-3
  • 1^st – Who the letter was FROM… vs. 1
    • 1 – Paul a PRISONER of Jesus Christ…
      • Also in Philemon 1:9 / Philemon 1:10 / 13 – “my chains for the Gospel”
      • A title Paul used on several occasions – Ephesians 4:1 / II Timothy 1:8
      • Interesting that Paul did not consider himself a PRISONER of Rome…
      • He saw Himself as a PRISONER of Jesus – because he was there for the sake of the Gospel!
      • This is an unusual greeting from Paul – he usually opens with – Paul an APOSTLE…
      • But Paul did not need to establish his authority with Philemon…
      • Instead – he wanted to come alongside him and encourage him in FORGIVENESS!
      • The Bible can either be a ROD to correct us – or it can be a TOOL to strengthen us…
      • It depends on our focus – if we are caught up in the care of this world – ROD of correction…
      • If we are focused on Jesus – then it comes along side of us to build us up in our walk!
    • 2 – Timothy – our BROTHER…
      • Timothy is mentioned in the greetings of THREE of the FOUR prison epistles…
      • Colossians 1:1 / Philippians 1:1 / Philemon 1:1 – not mentioned in Ephesians…
      • He is mentioned in 10 of the 13 letters of Paul – more than any other person…
      • He joined Paul at the beginning of his SECOND missionary journey – Acts 16
      • And he stayed with Paul all the way through the THIRD missionary journey…
      • Including serving alongside Paul during his FIRST imprisonment!
  • 2^nd – Who the letter was written to… vs. 1-2
    • 1 – Philemon – our BELOVED (friend is in italics) – and fellows LABORER…
      • Philemon – from phileo – someone who gives BROTHERLY love…
      • BELOVED – from agape – someone who receives PERFECT love…
      • FELLOW LABORER – synergos – 13x in NT – we can speak right into English…
      • Synergy – the cooperation of two things to produce a greater combined effect!
      • John 13:35 – “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
      • We are called to be KNOWN by our LOVE for one another…
      • But some PEOPLE are easier to love than others – some DAYS are just hard…
      • But when we have SYNERGY – AGAPE and PHILEO working together…
      • When RECEIVE the agape of the Lord – then we can we GIVE phileo to others!
    • 2 – BELOVED Apphia…
      • Apphia – fruitful – only mentioned here in the NT – thought to be her nick name…
      • Some presume she might be the wife of Philemon – but we do not know…
      • All we know is that she was part of the church in the house of Philemon!
    • 3 – Archippus – our fellow SOLDIER…
      • Some pressure he is the son of Philemon – but we do not know…
      • Archippus means – master of the horse – mentioned 2x in NT…
      • Colossians 4:17 – “Say to Archippus – Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.”
      • Fellow SOLDIER– 2x in NT – it is possible Archippus was a SOLDIER / Calvary…
      • When he got saved – he then became a FELLOW soldier with Paul for Jesus Christ!
    • 4 – The church in your house…
      • We see HOUSE churches in the Bible – I Corinthians 16:19 / Colossians 4:15
      • Leading some to believe churches should ONLY meet in HOUSES…
      • There are BENEFITS to a HOUSE church – smaller groups – closer relationships…
      • The larger the church – the easier it is to get LOST in the crowd…
      • But there is a BALANCE – large churches have greater resources – more influence…
      • Which is why the church in ACTS had BOTH – large and small churches!
      • Acts 2:46 – “Continuing daily with one accord in the temple [large] – and breaking bread from house to house [small].”
  • 3^rd – GRACE and PEACE… vs. 3
    • GRACE from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ…
      • The GRACE of God – charis – used 156x in NT…
      • Judgment is getting what I deserve – mercy is not getting what I deserve…
      • But GRACE is getting what I do not deserve – a FREE gift from God!
      • We earned the right to go to hell through our sin and rebellion – judgment…
      • Instead – God gave us the incredible gift of righteousness and heaven – through Jesus!
    • PEACE with God – eirene – 92x in NT…
      • Before we were saved – we lived in certain expectation of Gods wrath and judgment…
      • There was no PEACE in our lives – only the fear of death – and punishment!
      • Hebrews 10:27 – “There will be nothing to look forward to but the terrible expectation of Gods judgment and the raging fire that will consume his enemies.”
      • When we have the GRACE of God – the free gift of salvation – we have PEACE with God!
      • We cannot have true PEACE – rest in the knowledge we are forgiven – without GRACE!

• 2^nd – The prayer and joy of Paul… vs. 4-7
  • 1^st – The PRAYER of Paul… vs. 4/6
    • Paul THANKED God…
      • So often in life – we forget to be THANKFUL for all God has done for us – given to us…
      • We tend to think about all we do not have we think we need – but really just want…
      • If it is a need God would provide – if we do not have it – do not need it – Luke 12:31
      • God calls us to be THANKFUL for all things – for all God has done for us – every day!
      • Looking at what He has giving us – not what we think we still need!
      • I Thessalonians 5:17 – “In everything give THANKS; for this is the will of God…”
    • Paul prayed ALWAYS…
      • PRAYERS – 37x in NT – to address a conversation with God…
      • It was not an occasional PRAYER – it was CONSTANT PRAYER…
      • PRAYER is often treated as a ritual – part of what God expects a Christian to do…
      • Rarely do we take the time in PRAYER to listen – becomes a one-way conversation…
      • It makes you wonder – if no one is answering – is anyone listening – Luke 18:11
      • PRAYER should be a conversation with our Father in heaven…
      • How can we have a relationship with God – if we never get a chance to talk to Him…
      • Taking the time to listening to the wisdom He has for our lives!
      • PRAYER is not something we do – the definition of how we live – I Thessalonians 5:17
    • The PRAYER of Paul was specific…
      • This was not a general PRAYER – this was a very specific PRAYER!
      • Not that there is anything wrong with general prayers…
      • But it is also good to be specific in our prayers – to give God details…
      • Not that God does not already know- God sees the end from the beginning…
      • But it allows God to direct us on specific issues – allows God to change us…
      • Prayer is not about changing His mind – PRAYER is about God changing our mind!
      • Luke 22:42 – “Nevertheless not my will, but Your will, be done.”
    • PRAYER to be EFFECITIVE… vs. 6
      • That the SHARING (koinonia) of your FAITH – may be EFFECTIVE (energeo) by the…
      • ACKNOWLEDGEMENT (epignōsis) of every GOOD (agathos) thing in you in Christ…
      • The PRAYER of Paul was for Philemon to KNOW all that God had done for him…
      • Which as a result would give him ENERGY to go out and SHARE the Gospel!
      • I fear often we take for granted what God has done for us – meh – yup we are saved…
      • Not realizing the magnitude of being redeemed from HELL and promised HEAVEN…
      • The more we UNDERSTAND what God has done for us – the more ENEGY we will devote…
      • To telling ANYONE / EVERYONE about the Good News of Jesus Christ!
  • 2^nd – The JOY of Paul… vs. 5-7
    • Paul HEARD (present) about Philemon…
      • The LOVE (agape) / FAITH (pistos) he HAD – present / indicative…
      • The life of Philemon was ALWAYS defined by his LOVE and FAITH…
      • Not just towards God – but to ALL the saints – to EVERYONE!
      • If someone could SUM up our lives in just a couple of words – what would they be…
      • What defines us – what FRUIT do people see when they look at us!
      • The FRUIT of the SPIRIT is LOVE (singular) – Galatians 5:22
      • The other EIGHT words describe the results when we are DEFINED by LOVE!
      • How do we get the FRUIT of the SPIRIT – only by asking God in FAITH for His GRACE!
    • Paul had (present) GREAT joy – because Philemon refreshed the saints…
      • Paul had JOY and was COMFORTED by the LOVE (agape) that came from Philemon…
      • LOVE that was seen in how we REFRESHED (perfect) the SAINTS…
      • REFRESHED – 12x in NT – to give an opportunity to rest and be recharged!
      • In other words – Philemon lived out his LOVE practically by ministering to OTHERS!
      • Often – we listen to the Word – we attend Bible studies and are CONVICTED…
      • We agree with what we hear – we see our need to change – but then we go home…
      • And we go right back to the way we used to be – forgetting what we saw…
      • In the end we are no different than before we heard the Word – it meant nothing!

James 1:22-23 -“Be doers of the Word, not hearers only, deceiving yourselves…”